Opening and closing device for tiltable roofs of box cars



Feb, 13, 1968 K. 'RAAB ETAL 3,368,500

OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FOR TILTABLE RCOFS OF BOX CARS 9 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Nov. 5, 1965 'INVENTORS Feb. 13, 1968 v K. RAAB ETAL 3,368,500

OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FOR TILTABLE ROOFS OF BOX CARS Filed Nov. 5,1965 9 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Feb. 13, 1968 v K.RAAB ETAL 3,363,500

OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FOR TIL TABLE ROOFS 0F B OX CARS Filed Nov.s. 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet K. RAAB ETAL Feb. 13, 1968 OPENING AND CLOSINGDEVICE FOR TILTABLE ROOFS OF BOX CARS Filed Nov. {5, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR-S Feb. 13, 1968 K. RAAB ETAL OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FORTILTABLE ROOFS OF BOX CARS Filed Nov. 3, 1965,

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r bmue IM/ ?er K. RAAB ETAL Feb. 13, 1968 OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FORTIL'IABLE ROOFS OF BOX CARS 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 5, 1965INVENTORS r je m 23/9 n k Feb. 13, 1968 K. RAAB ETAL OPENING AND CLOSINGDEVICE FOR TILTABLE ROOFS OF BOX CARS Filed NOV. 5, 1965 9 Sheets-sheaf-'7 INVENTORJ WW. G M 9, 1 $7 a 1 Feb. 13, 1968 N K. RAAB ETAL 3,368,500

OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FOR TILTABLE ROOFS 0F BOX CARS Filed Nov. 5,1965 9 Sheets-Shem. 8

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Feb. 13, 1968 K. RAAB ETAL OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FOR TILTABLE RGOFSOF BOX CARS 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. 5, 1965 m m E V W United StatesPatent ()fiice 3,368,500 OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FOR T'ILTABLE ROOFSF BOX CARS Karl Raab, Wiesbaden, Helmnt Kiinig, Minden, Westphalia, andChristian Stiefel and Wilhelm Blank, Aachen, Germany, assignors toWaggonfabrik Talbot, Aachen, Germany Filed Nov. 3, 1965, Ser. No.506,220 12 Claims. (Cl. 105-377) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Freight carhaving open top with roof tiltable bodily laterally in either directionto close or open the top with the weight of the roof structure beingcounterbalanced by spring devices connected to the bearings about whichthe roof tilts together with a device for tilting the roof to and fromclosed position in either direction.

Thepresent invention relates to an opening and closmg arrangement fortiltable roofs of freight vehicles, especially railway freight cars, inWl'llCh a roof extending over the entire length of the car box is, inclosed condition of the vehicle, sealed with regard to the walls of thecar box and, for purposes of obtaining a loading opening ofsubstantially the same size as the loading bottom surface of thevehicle, is tiltable by means of a drive arranged on one box end faceonly, selectively to either side of the vehicle, said roof beingsupported by supporting columns tiltable in bearing means at the endfaces of the car box.

With tiltable roofs of this type, especially due to their tiltability toeither side of the car box, a rehable and weather proof seal with regardto the car box walls represents a ditlicult problem. Whereas with roofst ltable to one vehicle side only, the roof sections abut against fixedsealing surfaces arranged perpendicularly with regard to the directionof movement of the roof sections with roots tiltable to either side ofthe vehicle, only such sealing arrangements can be employed which arelocated outside the path of movement of the roof. Such sealingarrangements, however, require under all circumstances a reliablesynchronism of all roof sections and especially of the roof ends. Suchsynchronism of all roof sections is not assured with heretofore knownopening and closing arrangements which have the tilting drive arrangedon one side only. With tilting drives of this type WhlCh areconsiderably more advantageous as far as their actuation is concernedthan drives arranged on both ends of the vehicle, the long thin roofsections twist so that the nondriven roof end lags, and the sealingeffect cannot be obtained.

Opening and closing arrangements for roofs tiltable to either side ofthe vehicle are known according to which certain features with regard tothe sealing of the roof edges have to be put up with which aredisadvantageous in actual use of the freight vehicle. Thus, forinstance, with heretofore known tiltable roofs, it was impossible tomake the roof loading opening of substantially the same size as thebottom loading surface of the vehicle. On the other hand, it wasnecessary for purposes of broadening the space required for the tiltingof the roof, to reduce the size of the car box at the expense of itsloading capacity, or the side wall upper frames had to be located so lowthat the normal height for the side wall doors or lateral opening couldnot be obtained. In this connection also designs have become knownaccording to which the roof is tilted beyond the opening of the car boxin a way which endangers the life of the persons loading the freightcar.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to 3,368,500Patented Feb. 13, 1968 provide an opening and closing arrangement fortiltable rooms of freight vehicles which will overcome the abovementioned drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide an opening and closingarrangement as set forth in the preceding paragraph which will assure auniform synchronism in the movement of box car roof ends in spite of thearrangement of the drive at one end only.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an opening andclosing arrangement of the type set forth above, which will assure aproper seal at the edges of the roof regardless of whether the roof istilted according to the lift-tilting principle or according to thesliding principle.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates an opening and closing arrangementaccording to the invention for a lifttilting roof which is actuated bymeans of separate shafts for the lifting and lowering on one hand andthe tilting on the other hand, FIG. 1 showing in view the roof in closedcondition and the drive for the tilting of the roof arranged at one endwall of the freight vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 as seen in the direction of the arrow Awhile some parts have been omitted for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but with the roof in openedcondition.

FIG. 4 shows a modified opening and closing arrangement according to theinvention for a lifttilting roof which is opened and closed by a singleshaft for the lifting and lowering and for the tilting of the roof.

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4 as seen in the direction of the arrow B.

FIG. 6 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 4 but with the roof inopened condition.

FIG. 7 is a view of a further embodiment according to the presentinvention for a folding wing roof, said figure showing the roof inclosed condition and also show ing the driving means for said roof.

FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7 as seen in the direction of the arrow C.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 but with the a roof in openedcondition.

FIG. 10 is a view of still another embodiment of an opening and closingarrangement according to the present invention for a pure tilting roofwith sliding means, the roof being shown in closed condition.

FIG. 11 is a side view of FIG. 10 as seen in the direction of the arrowD.

FIG. 12 shows the roof of FIG. 10 in opened condition.

FIG. 13 is a section through an embodiment of a sealing strip accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a section through a modified sealing strip according to theinvention.

As mentioned above, the present invention is concerned with theprovision of an opening and closing arrangement for tiltable roofs offreight vehicles which will assure a reliable synchronism of both roofends in spite of the fact that the drive for tilting the roof will belocated at one end of the vehicle only, while the roof for assuring areliable seal may be designed according to the lift-tilting principle oraccording to the sliding principle. Both sealing types for thelift-tilting roof as well as for the pure tilting roof require under allcircumstances a perfect synchronism of both roof ends in order to obtaina reliable seal. Such synchronism is not assured with heretofore knownopening and closing arrangements accord- 3 ing to which at each car endthere are provided work storage means which are not coupled to eachother and compensate only for the different forces of movement inconformity with the tilting angle of the roof.

With a lift-tilting roof, both roof ends have to be uniformly hoistedout of their sealing position with one end and the same stroke, whilewith one end drive it is necessary under all circumstances to convey thehoisting movements from the drive end to the non-driven end. For thistransmission of forces, usually longitudinal shafts are employed.However, inasmuch as the hoisting forces to be conveyed areconsiderable, even strongly dimensioned shafts will in view of thenon-avoidable torsion angle caused by the considerable length of theshaft not assure the required hoisting precision and synchronism.

For purposes of remedying the above mentioned drawbacks of heretoforeknown opening and closing arrangements of the type set forth above, andfor realizing the objects outlined above, the present invention suggeststo design an opening and closing arrangement for tiltable roofs offreight vehicles in such a way that flexible pulling elements, such ascables, chains, or the like, are employed as power transmitting meansfor opening and closing the roof and for lifting and lowering of one orboth end bearings and/or for the hoisting movement of the supportingcolumns. Moreover, according to the present invention, work storagemeans known per se, for instance compensating springs, arranged at bothcar end walls are connected to the tiltable supporting columns by meansof flexible pulling elements the movements of which are positivelycoupled through the intervention of one or more connecting shaftsextending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the first embodiment of thepresent invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 shows a lift-tiltingroof having an end bearing 5 at both end walls of the vehicle. The saidend bearing 5 is adapted to be lifted and lowered by means of cables 8aand 8b. The tilting of the lifted roof 1 is effected by means known perse. Work storage means 6 known per se and arranged at both end walls 2'(one only being shown) which in this particular embodiment arerepresented by two tension springs 6a arranged one alongside the other,are, according to the present invention, connected to tilting supportingcolumns 2 by means of flexible pulling elements 9. The flexible pullingelements 9 comprise a chain 9a and a cable 9b. Chairn 9a is on each endwall 2' of the vehicle for purposes of obtaining a synchronism coupledwith the chain 9a on the other end wall of the vehicle, said couplingbeing effected by means of a connecting shaft 7 extending inlongitudinal direction of the vehicle. In this way a definitesynchronism will be realized when lifting and lowering the roof and whentilting the same so that the sealing elements on the upper frames 3 ofthe side walls will effect a proper seal.

For purposes of opening and closing the said lift-tilting roof 1, thereare provided two actuating shafts 4a and 4b of which shaft 4a isoperable to lift and lower roof 1, whereas shaft 41) brings about thetilting of roof 1. In its normal position, the roof formed by anundivided troughshaped member rests in a sealing manner by means oflaterally angled off longitudinal edges on correspondingly angledlongitudinal members of the side wall upper frame 3. It is from thissealing position that the roof has to be lifted before it can be tiltedlaterally. The lifting of the roof is effected by means of a drive shaft4a operable from each side of the vehicle and extending in horizontaldirection transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. 7 Driveshaft 4a is between inner bearing areas 2a and 2b provided with a threadon which in response to a rotation of shaft 4a a spindle nut 11 will bemoved in either direction depending on the rotation of shaft 4a therebyactuating a lever 12 which is pivotally connected to nut 11. Lever 12 islinked to a two-arm lifting lever 14 which is rotatable about a bearingpivot 13.

The free arm of lifting lever 14 has by means of a compensating member15 connected thereto the two cables 8a and 8b. Cable 8b which isintended for lifting the roof at that end of the vehicle which isprovided with a drive is passed over a deviating roller 16 and comingfrom the top is connected to the end bearing 5 which is adapted to belifted and lowered while sliding in guiding rails 17 on the end wall 2of the vehicle. Cable 8a which is adjustable in length by means of aturnbuckle 18 is passed over deviating rollers 19 through the side wallupper frame 3 to that end of the vehicle which is not driven and thereis in the same manner as cable 812 passed over a deviating roller 16 andconnected with the likewise vertically displaceable end bearing 5 of thesupporting columns 2. When drive shaft 4a is rotated, the two cables 8aand 8b are pulled downwardly by the same distance so that the endbearings 5 at both vehicle ends will be uniformly lifted as a result ofwhich the roof will, with the length of the supporting column 2.remaining the same, be uniformly lifted out of its sealing position.

The end bearing 5 on the end wall of the vehicle with the drive isextended downwardly and the said extension 20 has welded thereto a pivot21. Pivotally mounted on said pivot 21 is a lever 22 the upper portionof which is provided with a gear segment 22a, whereas the lower portionhas a longitudinal slot 22b. Slot 22b is engaged by a spindle nut 23which in response to a turning movement of shaft 411 moves lever 22either to the right or to the left depending on the side to which theroof 1 is to be pivoted. Gear segment 22a meshes with a gear segment 24of bearing 5 whereby in response to the turning of lever 22 also roof 1will be tilted.

The tilting forces which continuously vary during the tilting operationare equalized by work storage means 6 arranged at each end of thevehicle so as to keep the manual crank forces substantially the same.The work storage means 6 are designed as two tension springs 6a whichare arranged adjacent to each other. The work storage means 6 arearranged between two fixed points of the end walls of the vehicle andpoints of attack of the supporting columns 2. Said work storage means 6are under pre-tension and are interconnected by pulling elements 9.Pulling elements 9 are each composed of a chain 9a and a cable 912.Chains 9a pass over sprocket wheels 7a whereas cables 9b pass overdeviating rollers 25. The sprocket wheels 7a of both vehicle ends areconnected to a common connecting shaft 7 which extends through the sidewall upper frame 3 in longitudinal direction of the vehicle whereby thetilting forces and the tilting movements of roof 1 at both ends of thevehicle are coupled to each other so as to assure a reliablesynchronism. The ends of cable 912 are in the center of the vehicleconnected to connecting members 26 of the two supporting columns 2. Theconnecting members 26 are provided with protruding studs 27 which whenroof 1 is closed are lowered into recesses 28 at the vehicle end wallsand form arresting means for the roof against tilting during the liftingand lowering of the roof. The engagement and disengagement of thearresting means is eflfected automatically by the lifting and loweringmovements of the supporting columns 2.

In view of the fact that the work storage means 6 are under pre-load,the lifting forces are considerably reduced, and the cables 8a and 8bprovided for lifting the end bearings 5 are considerably relieved. Inorder to be able to safely maintain roof 1 in its respective tiltedposition, bearing bolt 13 has freely pivotally mounted thereon an anglelever 29. Arm 29a of angle lever 29 will be turned in counterclockwisedirection by a cam 30 on lifting lever 14 when roof 1 is lowered. Inthis connection the other arm 29b of angle lever 29 presses on a cam 31of end bearing 5 and prevents roof 1 from an accidental liftingmovement. Angle lever 29 furthermore brings about that roof 1 willforcibly be lowered if during the lowering movement it shouldaccidentally get stuck at one side.

According to a further development of the present invention asillustrated by the embodiment in FIGS. 4 to 6, the opening and closingarrangement according to the present invention is likewise shown inconnection with a lift-tilting roof which advantageously is lifted,tilted and lowered by a single actuating shaft 40 only. The lifting,tilting and lowering of end bearing 5 on the driving side of the vehicleis effected with this embodiment by means of a carriage 45 known per seand a gear 42. According to the invention, the lifting and lowering ofbearing 5 is effected by means of flexible pulling elements 8 whilesynchronism is assured. The work storage means for equalizing thetilting movement of the lifted roof 1 are according to the firstembodiment set forth in FIGS. 1 to 3 designed as parallelly arrangedtension springs 60 which are connected to the supporting columns 2through the intervention of flexible pulling elements 9. The flexiblepulling elements 9 are composed of a chain 9c and a cable 9d while thechains 90 pass over sprockets 7c and are coupled to each other by aconnecting shaft 7 whereas cables 9d pass over deviating rollers 64.

For lifting and tilting roof 1, actuating shaft 4c of FIG. 4 is rotatedcontinuously in one direction, whereas for tilting the roof back to itscovering position and lowering said roof, actuating shaft 40 is rotatedin the opposite direction. In order to open the roof toward one definiteside of the vehicle, the operator starts actuating shaft 4d in thecorresponding direction of rotation. The supporting columns 2 carryingroof 1 are connected to the end bearings 5 the housings 5c of which arerotatable about pivots 5d. Pivots 5d are welded to sliding members 40 sothat their axes are horizontal. Sliding members 40 are displaceable invertical direction in guiding rails 41 on the end walls of the vehicle.The driving end of pivot 5d has freely rotatably journalled thereon apinion 42 which has laterally arranged tread sections 43 by means ofwhich pinion 42 rests on side walls 44 of a carriage 45. The teeth ofpinion 42 mesh with the teeth of a rack 46 which is fixedly arrangedbetween side walls 44 of carriage 45. Side walls 44 and in part alsorack 46 are so designed as to form a trough in the central portion ofcarriage 45, said trough being formed in conformity with the contour ofthe teeth of pinion 42. Pinion 42 is lowered into said trough whencarriage 45 occupies a position in the center of the vehicle end wallwhile roof 1 is closed. Carriage 45 which by means of track guidedrollers 47 can be displaced toward either vehicle side on a support 48which is arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, isprovided with a fork 49 which embraces lateral pivots 50 of a spindlenut 51. By turning a threaded spindle 4d which is driven by actuatingshaft 40 through a sprocket wheel transmission 52, spindle nut 51 willbe moved toward one or theother side of the carriage depending on thedirection of rotation of shaft 4c. Carriage 45 will likewise be movedlaterally and will move with its inclined running surfaces below pinion42 which will thereby be lifted and at the same time be turned in viewof the intermesh of the teeth. Together with pinion 42, also the endbearing housing which is freely rotatable on the same pivot 5d, andfurthermore the sliding members 40 displaceable in the end wall guidingmeans will be lifted.

The two end bearings 5 are coupled together as to their movement bymeans of a cable 80 which is connected at the lower end to slidingmember 40 and which is also connected with the sliding member 40 at thenon-driven vehicle 'end by means of reversing rollers 53, 54 and 55through the side wall upper frame 3. The end bearing 5 located at thenon-driving end will thus be lifted to the same extent as the endbearing 5 at the driving end. If for some reason it should occur thatroof 1 in spite of its weight will during the lowering movement getstuck, a further non-illustrated cable may be provided which will beguided in the same manner as cable 8c but will be connected from the topto sliding member 40 of the driving end and will be connected from thebottom to said sliding member 40 of the non-driving end of the vehicle.

As has been mentioned above, during the lifting of pinion 42, the latterwill simultaneously be rotated while a control lever 56 fixedlyconnected to pinion 42 by a bend-resistant bridge member 57 androtatable on pivot 5d will likewise be rotated. This control lever 56will when being rotated, with its cam 58 actuate a mechanism 59 which isconnected to supporting columns 2 and comprises levers and springs. Thismechanism brings about that a follower bolt 60 is moved in axialdirection until it abuts against the extensions 62 of control levers 56which in the meantime have turned into the range of the follower bolt60, said bolt 60 being pressed by spring means against the saidextensions 62. It is to be noted that follower bolt 60 is axiallydisplaceable in a bushing of supporting columns 2 and for purposes ofarresting the roof in closed position and during the lifting operation,is moved into a longitudinal slot of an end wall support 61. When bore63 which corresponds in diameter to the follower bolt 60 and pertains tocontrol lever 56 has moved into a position in which it is coaxiallyarranged with regard to the follower bolt 60, follower bolt 60 willunder the thrust of the spring associated therewith spring into bore 63of control lever 56 and out of the longitudinal slot of the end wallsupport 61. As a result thereof, supporting columns 2 are by means ofthe connection of the bolts with the control lever 56 rotated during therotation of control lever 56 so that roof 1 will be tilted. Theengagement or springing of bolt 60 into bore 63 of the control lever 56will be effected in the very instant at which the merging portion of thetrough section of carriage 45 with the horizontal portion thereof passesinto the center of the vehicle. During the further movement of carriage45, no further lifting of bearing 5 will be effected but merely afurther rotation of pinion 42 whereby roof 1 will be tilted. Thelift-tilting arrangement which is symmetric with regard to the center ofthe vehicle permits the opening and closing movement for either side ofthe vehicle. The Work storage means 6 are arranged in the same manner asis the case with the opening and closing arrangement according to FIGS.1 to 3. These work storage means relieve the lifting forces and due totheir connection with the connecting shaft 7 extending in longitudinaldirection of the vehicle will assure complete synchronism of both roofends.

FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate a third embodiment according to the presentinvention in which the roof forms a twowing tiltable roof with liftablelateral roof sections 12 and 1 According to the principle of the presentinvention, the tilting movement on the driving side is effected by meansof flexible pulling elements 10. Also with this embodiment, the workstorage means 6 are in conformity with the invention, connected with thesupporting columns 2 by means of flexible pulling elements 9 comprisingchains 9e and cables 9]. The pulling elements 9 in the form of chains 9eare through sprocket wheels 7e by means of longitudinal connectingshafts 7 coupled to each other and thus assure a definite synchronism ofthe movement of the roof ends.

Roof 1 comprises a central roof section which in a manner known per seis in a cantilever fashion supported by rotatable supporting columns 2in fixed end bearings 5 of the end walls of the vehicle at such a heightthat said central roof section will during the opening operation toeither side of the vehicle pass with all its elements over the fixedparts of the vehicle box. Roof 1 furthermore comprises two lateral roofsections 1e and 1 Each of said two roof sections 1e and If is on onehand pivotally suspended in the corresponding longitudinal marginalportion of the central roof section and on the other hand has its outerlongitudinal edges which are designed as sealing means resting on theside wall upper frames 3 in a sealing position. The lifting of thelateral roof sections 1e and 11 out of the sealing position is effectedby means of an actuating shaft 4 arranged at one end of the vehicle.When shaft te is rotated, a spindle nut 70 is displaced in transversedirection of the vehicle and through the intervention of a link bar 71pivots a two-arm lever 72 about a bearing pivot connected to the endwall of the vehicle. The upper lever arm of lever 72 has welded theretoa circularly arched member 74. When the roof is in closed position,lever 72 occupies a position in which the center 75 of said circularlyarched member 74 is located above the center of the tilting bearing. Byrotating lever 72 in clockwise direction about pivot 73, the said member74 is lowered to such an extent that its center 75 coincides With thecenter of bearing 5. When said circularly arched member 74 is lowered,also a roller pair 76 is lowered which is controlled by member 74 whichis located therebetween. Roller pair 76 is connected to a connectingmember 77 which is connected to a lifter rod 78 so that the latter willlikewise be pulled downwardly. The upper end of lifter rod 78 engages alever arm 9 of the lateral sections or wings 1e and if. The wings 1e and1] which with their fixed longitudinally extending shafts 80 aretiltably mounted in the longitudinal edges of the central roof sectionare in response to a downward pull of the lifter rod 78 tilted out ofthe sealing position and in response to a lifting of lifter rod 78 arefolded into sealing position.

For purposes of tilting the three roof sections together, the circularlyarched member 74 is brought into coaxial arrangement with the center ofthe end bearing 5. This is brought about by the engagement of spindlenut 70 with an abutment. The rotatable portion of bearing has connectedthereto a two-groove pulley segment 31. These grooves have insertedthereinto cables and 10] which are coming up from below and havereversed windingup sense. Cables 10c and 10 are fixedly connected to thecable pulley segment 81 at points 82 and 83. By means of these twocables, it is possible to tilt roof 1 toward either side depending onthe direction of rotation of the actuating shaft 4e. By turningactuating shaft 4 two spindle nuts 84 are moved which are connected toeach other. Cables Ne and 10f are connected to said spindle nuts throughthe intervention of deviating rollers 85 and 86. By means of thistwo-cable arrangement, the roof will be reliably held in its closedposition as well as in its opened position and also in all intermediatepositions. Inasmuch as the arched member 74 during the lifting of thewings 1e and 1 has been brought into concentric arrangement with thecenter point of the bearing 5, the rollers 76 which are positivelyguided by the member 74 will during the tilting of roof 1 not perform astroke, which means that the roof tilts with wings 1e and 1f folded upand remaining in folded up condition.

The work storage means 6 for equalizing the tilting forces are with theembodiment of FIGS. 7 to 9 designed in conformity with the embodimentsof FIGS. 1 to 6. The said work storage means 6 are by means of pullingelements 9 comprising chains 9e and cables 9 connected to the supportingcolumns 2. The movements of chain 9e are coupled through sprocket wheels7e of a connecting shaft 7, and cables 9} pass over deviating rollers 7and are connected to supporting columns 2. The work storage means 6 haveno influence on the upward folding and lowering of the wings but, asdescribed in connection with the first embodiment, also in this instanceassure a safe synchronism for both roof ends in view of the fact thatthey are coupled through longitudinally extending connecting shafts 7.

In the last and fourth embodiment of the present invention, theinvention is illustrated in connection with a pure tilting roof 1, whilealso in this instance as conveying members for opening and closing theroof and, more specifically for the lifting and lowering and/or for thetilting movement of the supporting columns, flexible elements areemployed such as cables, chains, and the like. The roof forms a singlepiece trough which rests on supporting columns 2 in a cantilever fashionwhich are journalled in fixed end bearings 5 at the end walls of thevehicle. The roof is tilted by means of a drive which is known per sewhile in conformity with the invention flexible elements 10g areprovided which supported by Work storage means 6 known per se willassure a reliable synchronism of both roof ends. The work storage means6 are in this embodiment somewhat changed over those described inconnection with the preceding embodiments of the invention.

Roof 1 of the embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 12 is at both longitudinal edgeson a certain arched portion smooth at the bottom surface and is designedin conformity with the circularly arched part about the tilting axis.Elastically deformable longitudinally extending sealing bands or strips101 press from below against the arched members 100. Said bands 101 areby means of longitudinal sheet metal members 102 connected to theprotruding longitudinal members 103 of the lateral upper frame 3, saidsheet metal members 102 being angled for shedding water. During theopening and closing of roof 1, the latter will with its arched portions100 slide over the sealing bands 101 pressed thereagainst while saidsealing bands 101 correspondingly elastically deform in conformity withthe direction of movement of the roof. A lifting or lowering during theopening and closing of roof 1 is not necessary with this design.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate two embodiments for sealing bands of the typejust mentioned. According to FIG. 15, the sealing strip 101 which isconnected to longitudinal member 103 of the side wall upper frame 3 bymeans of angled longitudinal sheet metal member 102 consists of a highlywear-resistant and strong material, such as neoprene. Sealing strip 101is by means of screws connected to member 103 while longitudinal slots121 in sealing strip 101 permit an adjustment of the latter.

FIG. 14 shows a modified form of the sealing strip 101. According tothis embodiment, an additional metal strip 119 is by means oflongitudinal strips 102 connected to the longitudinal member 103 of theside wall upper frame 3. Metal strip 119 carries at its upper somewhatangled-off edge a round bar 120 which is welded to the metal strip 119.Slipped over round bar 120 is a sealing strip 101 in the form of aslotted tube, which consists of a yieldable and wear-resistant materialof polyamide, as for instance nylon. Both sealing strips will assure aproper seal of the pure tilting roof. The described sealing strips willhave a longer life.

With the embodiment according to FIGS. 10 to 12, the supporting column 2located at that end of the vehicle Where the drive for the roof isarranged is extended downwardly beyond the bearing 5 and ends betweentwo arresting cams 104 and 105 which are turnable from an effective toan ineffective position and vice versa. These arresting cams are mountedat those ends of horizontally extending arresting shafts 106 and 107which face toward the central plane of the vehicle. Each of shafts 106and 107 is adapted independently of the other to be turned from thecorresponding vehicle side after a safety latch 108 has been released.In response to a turning of the respective shaft, the cam arrangedthereon will be turned out of the tilting range of the downwardlyextended supporting column so that the lower end of the respectivesupporting column 2 can be tilted only toward the operators side, andthe roof can be tilted to the opposite side.

For purposes of tilting roof 1, there is provided an actuating shaft 4gwhich is horizontally arranged above the arresting shafts 106 and 107 atthat end of the vehicle which carries the drive for the roof. Actuatingshaft 4g may be actuated from either side of the vehicle. The directionof rotation of actuating shaft 4g for purposes of opening the roof isautomatically determined by the arresting cams 104, 105 moved out of therange of movement of the lower end of supporting column 2. If, forinstance, the opening and closing operation for locally determinedreasons is most convenient from the right-hand side of the vehicle orif, for instance, the roof is to be tilted toward the left vehicle sidebecause this affords a better loading possibility, the safety latch ofthe right-hand arresting shaft 106 is released and the said latch isturned while the right arresting cam 104 is moved into its ineffectiveposition. Actuating shaft 4g may thus be turned only in such a directionthat the 'lower end of supporting column 2 will tilt toward the freedright-hand vehicle side, and the roof 1 will as explained further belowbe tilted toward the left vehicle side.

By turning the actuating shaft 4g, a spindle nut 109 mounted on thecentral thread portion of actuating shaft 4g will move sidewards andwill turn a two-arm-lever 110 about a fixed pivot 112, siad lever 110having its lower lever arm embracing a pivot 111 in a slide. In thisWay, also the tooth segment 113 which is welded to the upper lever arm110 Will turn about pivot 112. Tooth segment 113 meshes with a gearsegment 114 of bearing 5 to which also supporting column 2 is connected.

Cable connecting parts 115 are provided on the supporting columns 2 ofboth vehicle ends. Connected to members 115 are flexible pullingelements 9 which in the present instance are formed by wire cables 5gand 9h. Cables 9g and 911 are connected to levers 117 through theintervention of deviating rollers 116. Levers 117 are freely rotatableabout pivots 118 at the end walls of the vehicle, and work storage means6 for equalizing the various tilting forces are arranged between levers117. Work storage means 6 of the embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 12 are formedby pressure springs 6g. The transmission of tilting forces from that endof the vehicle which carries the drive for the roof to the other end ofthe vehicle is in conformity with the present invention effected by atransmission member 10 which forms a link chain 10g. Link chain 10g isalong the arch of the tilting radius mounted on the supporting columns2. This may be effected for instance by means of fish plates or the likeat every other or third chain link. The synchronism of both roof ends isobtained by means of said link chain 10g in which instance twoconnecting shafts 7 arranged in the side wall upper frames 3 throughsprocket wheels 7;: and 7h are in continuous engagementwith link chain10g.

The above described four embodiments of the present invention clearlyshow that the opening and closing arrangement accordingto the presentinvention may be employed for opening and closing roofs of freightvehicles which roofs may be designed as lift-tilting roof, wingtiltingroof or as pure tilting roof.

According to the present invention, flexible pulling elements 8, 9, 10which may be designed as cables, chains or the like, serve as powertransmitting means for opening and closing the roof. These flexiblepulling elements may be arranged for lifting and lowering of one or bothend wall bearings 5 and/or for the tilting movement of the supportingcolumns 2.

According to the further feature of the present invention, both vehicleend walls have arranged thereon work storage means 6 of a heretoforeknown type which in the particular designs described above may be formedby tension springs 6a, 60, 6e or by pressure springs 6g. Theseequalizing springs are connected to the tiltable supporting columns 2,according to the present invention, by means of flexible pullingelements 9 the movements of which are automatically coupled through oneor more connecting shafts 7 extending in the longitudinal direction ofthe vehicle. Preferably, the connecting shafts 7 are arranged in hollowside wall upper frames 3.

As will be evident from the above the present invention provides for anopening and closing arrangement for tiltable roofs of freight vehiclesby means of which a synchronism of the roof extending over the entirelength of the car will be assured. The opening and closing of the roofmav be effected by means of one drive only at an end wall of the vehicleand to either side of the vehicle. The arrangement according to theinvention makes pos- 10 sible a roof construction which furnishes acharging or loading opening of the same size as the loading bottomsurface of the vehicle.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the particular constructions shown in the drawings butalso comprises any modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What we claim is:

1. A top loading freight vehicle, especially boxcar, having side and endwalls and also having a roof extending over the entire opening definedby said side and end walls, said roof being tiltable bodily in eitherlateral direction to uncover the opening in the top of the car, saidvehicle comprising: bearing means respectively supported by said endwalls and in substantially axial alignment with each other, supportingmeans arranged at each of said end walls and connected to said roofwhile being pivotally journalled in said bearing means, said supportingmeans being tiltable selectively for tilting said roof in either lateraldirection from a first position in which said opening is closed to asecond position in which said opening is entirely uncovered, an viceversa, driving means arranged on the outside of one of said end wallsonly and drivingly connected to the adjacent said supporting means forselectively tilting said roof from said first position to said secondposition, and vice versa, power storage means on each end wall, aflexible power conveying means respectively arranged on each said endwall and connected at one end to the respective power storage means andoperatively connected at the other end to the respective adjacentsupporting means, said power storage means at a point above the axis ofsaid bearing means and receiving power from said roof and storing thepower as said roof tilts away from closed position and returning powerto the roof as the roof tilts toward closed position, and rotatableshaft means extending in the longitudinal direction of said vehicle on aside wall thereof and journalled on said vehicle and drivingly connectedto both of said supporting means so as to couple the supporting meanstogether for tilting thereof in unison.

2. A freight vehicle according to claim 1, in which said power storagemeans includes springs.

3. A freight vehicle according to claim 1, in which at least one of saidside walls has its upper marginal portion provided with a longitudinallyextending hollow frame section, and in which said rotatable shaft meansextends through said hollow frame section.

4. A freight vehicle according to claim 1, which includes guiding meanson each of said end walls for receiving and vertically guiding saidbearing means on the respective end walls to permit lifting of said rooffrom said vehicle, and control means on said one end wall operativelyconnected to both of said bearing means and selectively operable movingthe same upwardly and downwardly in said guiding means.

5. A freight vehicle according to claim 4, in which said control meanscomprises a rotatable threaded spindle journalled on said one end walland extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of saidvehicle, a spindle nut threadedly engaging said spindle, link meanspivotally connected to said nut, a two-arm lever pivoted on said one endwall and having one arm linked to said link means, cable meansconnecting the other arm of said two-arm lever with each of said bearingmeans, and an idler roller above each bearing means over which thepertaining cable means passes so movement of the lever will causevertical movement of the bearing means.

6. A freight vehicle according to claim 1, in which the driving meansincludes rotatable shaft means extending in a direction transverse tothe longitudinal axis of said vehicle, carriage means arranged betweensaid shaft means and the respective adjacent bearing means and guided onthe respective end wall for lateral movement, guiding means on therespective end walls associated with each of said bearing means forguiding said bearing means in vertical movement on their respective endwalls, rotatable pinion means connected to that one of said bearingmeans which is adjacent said carriage means, said carriage means beingprovided with rack means meshing with said pinion means and having acentral depression for receiving said pinion means when said depressionis below said pinion means, said carriage means being operable inresponse to a rotation of said shaft means to move in a transversedirection with regard to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle tothereby lift said pinion means out of said depression and thereby alsoto lift said one bearing means having said pinion means connectedthereto, cable means connecting said one bearing means to the otherbearing means on the other end wall of said vehicle and responsive tovertical movement of said one bearing means to cause correspondingvertical movement of said other bearing means, and means for connectingthe respective adjacent support means to said pinion means for tiltingthe support means as the pinion means is rotated by said carriage means.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, in which one of said side wallshas its upper marginal portion provided with longitudinally extendingbox-like guiding means, and in which said cable means operativelyinterconnecting said bearing means passes through said last-mentionedguiding means.

8. A freight vehicle according to claim 1, which includes pulley meansfixedly connected to that roof supporting means which is adjacent saiddriving means and coaxial with the respective bearing means, and inwhich said driving means includes threaded spindle means extendingtransversely on said one end wall and a spindle nut threadedly engagingsaid spindle means, a stationary roller spaced laterally from said nuton each side thereof, and flexible inextensible means connected to saidspindle nut and extending in opposite direction therefrom and passingover said rollers and then back to said pulley means and wrapped aboutsaid pulley means in respectively opposite directions and connected tosaid pulley means.

9. A freight vehicle according to claim 1, in which said roof comprisesa central section and two wing sections respectively hinged to oppositesides of said central section, and in which said supporting meansincludes connecting means fixedly connected to said central section androtatably supported by said bearing means and also includes movablemeans movable relative to said central section and operatively connectedto said wing sections tilting the same upwardly about the pivotalconnection thereof with said central section for lifting the wingsections oil the side walls of the vehicle in response to a movement ofsaid movable means in one direction and to permit movement of said wingsections into engagement with said vehicle side walls in response to themovement of said movable means in the opposite direction, and meansoperatively connected to said moveable means for actuating the latter.

10. A freight vehicle according to claim 1, in which each of saidsupporting means includes a link chain arranged along an arc concentricwith the axis of the pertaining bearing means, and sprocket wheel meansrespectively arranged on the opposite end portions of said rotatableshaft means and meshing with the respective adjacent link chain means.

11. A freight vehicle according to claim 1, in which said power storagemeans includes two spaced two-arm lever means pivotally supported bythat end wall of said vehicle which has the driving means adjacentthereto, spring means interposed between and having the ends thereofconnected to a corresponding arm of each of said two lever means to biasthe lever means in one direction, and said flexible power conveyingmeans being connected to the other arm of each said lever means and alsoto the adjacent supporting means.

12. A freight vehicle according to claim 1, in which said flexible powerconveying means is inextensible and said rotatable shaft includes amember on each end over which the adjacent power conveying means passes,and each said member having a driving connection with the pertainingpower conveying member so that movement of the power conveying membersduring tilting of said roof is synchronized.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,747,423 2/1950 Campbell 3772,899,912 8/1959 Janeczko 105377 3,019,743 2/1962 Stiefel et al. 105377ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

DRAYTON E. HOFFMAN, Examiner.

